hands so he couldn’t look at her. She didn’t want him to see her
like this. Weak and pathetic. “Have I hurt you?” She quickly
shook her head and he placed a hand on her wrist to try and pry
her hands away from her face but they wouldn’t budge. “Your
thoughts are such a mess I can’t untangle them. I can smell your
tears yet I do not know what caused them. Speak to me.” He
ordered and she sniffled, feeling every bit the idiot.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?” He finally managed to pull her hands away,
frowning at the trails her tears left behind. Leviathan kissed the
apples of her cheeks. “I am such a bastard.”
“No. You’ve done nothing wrong.” She told him as he wiped
away the last of her tears, leaning his forehead against hers as he
whispered quietly to her.
“I have. I’ve let this go too far. I told you Kailani; I can’t give
you what you deserve. I am not the man for you.” He said and
she shook her head, her hand going to his neck as she rubbed her
thumb against his stubble.
“But why?” Her voice was so meek, so tiny it sounded frail and
he hated himself for it.
“Because my time here is limited. Don’t you see that? Once
you’re safe I’ll be returning to Hell. There is no place for me in
this world as much as I wish otherwise.” He spoke the truth. She
knew that but she didn’t want to believe it. But why? What had
come over her? She didn’t know Leviathan but it felt right to be
with him. It felt right to touch him and confide in him all her
secrets, all her fears. She wanted him to stay. Her heart knew it,
her body knew it but her brain couldn’t help but protest.
Leviathan was wrong for her, no matter how good he felt. “You
should listen to your brain. It’s the most logical part of your
body.” He said, trailing a hand over her hip to squeeze her thigh,
“Beautiful body that it is.” Kailani chuckled, tears leaking down
the sides of her face as she kissed his cheeks and nose, finally
allowing her lips to rest on his. “What you’re feeling is common
Kai. I want you to know that. It is not unique; it is not love or
even infatuation you are feeling. It is the power you hold that
wants me to claim it. Nothing more.”
“You shouldn’t tell me how I feel Leviathan. It’s not fair.” She
said and he growled.
“I say it because I know it to be true. You’re not the first
Hellmouth—!”
“I don’t want to hear about the others!” She cut him off, rolling
away from him again but he stopped her, pinning her struggling
arms above her head as she fought him. He kissed her then,
stilling her movements and pouring everything he had into that
one kiss. Wanting her to know she wasn’t alone, that she wasn’t
the only one to feel what pulsed through her veins at that
moment. For the life of him he couldn’t explain what he was
feeling, but it hurt to lie to her. It hurt to say she wasn’t different
when he knew in his empty soul she was. And then he was gone,
ripping himself away from her as he climbed off the bed and
charged into the bathroom. Kailani heard the sound of running
water and she sat up to watch his shadow dance across the carpet.
“What…Are you doing?” She was almost afraid to ask, watching
him poke his head out and frown at her.
“Get in here.” He growled, retreating back into the bathroom only
to poke his head back out and add, “Now.” Cautiously, she slid
off the bed, wrapping a sheet around her body as she followed the
sound of water and the echo of his voice. The second she set foot
on the cool tile he grabbed her, peeling the cloth away from her
body and tossing her under the chilly spray of the shower head.
She shrieked with surprise as the cold water sent a jolt down her
spine. Her lips formed a sigh of pleasure and relief as Leviathan
joined her, his hot body shielding her from the makeshift
waterfall.
“I want to be inside of you Kailani. I crave you like a dying man
clinging to life.” He whispered against her ear and she shook with
the power it took to hold back the tears that suddenly reformed in
her eyes.
“Please.” Was her answer, her cry of happiness rising above the
sound of the shower and afternoon traffic as he slowly eased
himself inside of her. Her wrists were pinned above her head
against the tile as he loved her with deliberate slowness. His body
pressed against hers, her breasts flattened against his chest as his
lips teased her neck and ear. The tears had returned but for a
different reason, mixing with the water and rolling down her
cheeks only to be kissed away by the man in and around her. Like
a peaceful tide breaking upon a beach, the gentle rocking motion
of their lovemaking seemed more erotic than anything she’d ever
felt. Every inch of her felt ready to melt beneath his touch and
when she came it was as if the world had exploded around them
and slowly knitted itself back together. Leviathan was next to
join her in bliss, her name falling from his lips as he growled,
spilling himself inside her still trembling frame. He felt her
crumple in his arms as he pulled her closer in an attempt to keep
her on her feet. Turning off the shower he hauled her out of the
tub and into the bedroom, tossing her onto the bed and collapsing
next to her. Their breathing ragged they fell into a comfortable
silence, neither of them needing to speak to convey the emotions
that were now apparent between them. Seconds stretched into
ages as he listened to her breathing slow, her eyes firmly shut.
“What made you cry?” He heard himself asking, even though he
knew she was already asleep.
“Are you sure they’re in there?” Leviathan’s eyes opened
at the woman’s question. Still half asleep he vaguely recognized
her small voice as it filtered through the sliding balcony doors.
Cursing he slipped from behind the sleeping Kailani and pulled
his pants on. They were barely around his hips when the doors
were pulled open and Naomi stepped inside.
“What in the hell are you doing here?” He growled and her eyes
widened first at Kailani then up at him, noting their state of
undress. He snarled something and moved to block her view of
Kai.
“Look, we come in peace. We only want to speak to Kailani and
then we’ll leave.” She hastened to explain, making placating
gestures with her hands in an attempt to calm him. It wasn’t
working.
“We? Don’t tell me you—” He started but a second voice cut him
off.
“Yes. I’m here as well.” Pierre dropped from his perch on the
balcony railing, folding his wings against his back as he moved
into the room. His eyes stayed glued to Leviathan, knowing that
if they strayed anywhere towards Kailani a fight would ensue.
“What business do you have with her?” He asked and Naomi
motioned for Pierre to come forward. The angel pulled a black
bag from behind his back and tossed it to Leviathan who caught it
against his chest. He turned it over in his hands and cocked a
brow.
“Her things? How did you get this?”
“The teenagers who stole your jeep ditched it a few miles into the
desert. Once they discovered the bloodstains on the vehicle they
fled, not wanting to be suspected of murder seeing as the police
found the half eaten remains of the humans you killed. We
tracked it down and recovered it for the Hellmouth.” Pierre said,
making it clear that they weren’t doing anything to help him but
Kailani instead. Leviathan smirked.
“I’d say thank you but you’re a few hours too late.”
“Yes, we heard about the bank robbery. We would have stopped
you but the chaos you caused was quite entertaining. It was a
good plan using the girl as a getaway driver, unfortunately that
temporary passport she has wouldn’t have gotten you to the states
let alone Germany. The Australian police are watching the airport
and because of her mad dash to pick you up she is now wanted
for questioning. She’ll be arrested the moment she shows her face
in public.” Pierre explained and Leviathan’s features darkened.
“No, she won’t because we’re going to help her escape. She’s
innocent in this and it’s the least we can do.” Naomi said, moving
around the growling demon to rouse Kailani, much to his dismay.
“Naomi?” She asked groggily and the woman gave her a
sympathetic look as she sat up, hastening to tighten the sheets
around her body. “What are you doing here? Leviathan?” She
asked and he stepped closer to her.
“I’m here. You have nothing to worry about.”
“Look I’m sorry about the tents. I told him not to do it.” She
explained and he resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Naomi just
smiled, taking her bag from Leviathan and handing it to her.
“That’s not why we’re here. Come, get dressed, we have much to
discuss.” She took her hand, pulling her from the bed and leading
her towards the bathroom. Leviathan watched as they went
through the door, trailing sheets behind them.
“You have some nerve.” Pierre said the moment they were out of
earshot. Leviathan turned to glare over at him, watching as he
folded his hands in front of him and cocked his head. “The
Hellmouth is not yours to keep.” His eyes narrowed towards the
bed. “Just what were you thinking?”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. I highly recommend
keeping your beak shut.” Leviathan growled, moving to gather
the rest of his discarded clothing but Pierre stepped into his path.
“As Naomi said she is an innocent. How dare you take advantage
of her?!”
“I haven’t taken advantage of anything, she wanted this!” He
snarled and Pierre seethed, lowering his head in preparation of an
attack. Leviathan didn’t give him what he wanted, calming
himself instead as he searched for the right words to use. He
knew the angels; they wanted nothing more than a justified
reason to murder his kind. There was nothing sanctified or holy
about them. They were just as cruel and manipulating as the
demons, if not more so. The only way they could justify their
misdeeds was by claiming they were for the greater good. What a
load of bullshit. “I would never force her to do anything against
her will.”
“Wouldn’t you demon? I know of your sins, raping and pillaging
means nothing to your kind, but especially not you,
Leviathan
.”
He spat his name as if it were an oath. “You like to think you’re
better than the others, that you are a higher being but I know the
truth.”
“You know nothing!” He barked and the angel’s feathers ruffled,
sensing the rage that coursed through the entity in front of him.
“Don’t speak as if you know me angel. I was ripping the wings
off your kind long before your eldest ancestor was even
relevant.”
“Something I bet you are no doubt proud of. But the question is,
why are you here now? Why are you plaguing this young woman
and sullying her with your presence?”
“As if I have a choice!” Leviathan watched the angels eyes
widen, knowing his own had taken on a formidable color. “You
know that once summoned I have no choice but to obey my
summoner until I am returned. It is the law of my species!”
“And the girl? You were not summoned to endanger her soul.”
Leviathan took a menacing step towards him at the mention of
Kailani.
“She is none of your concern.”
“She is an innocent being tortured by a demonic entity, she is too
my concern!”
“Lower your voice.” He growled, taking another step towards the
angel who glared. “I know I can’t keep her. I know I’m no good
for her. Your arguments are wasted on me angel.”
“If you know this why are you taking this there? Why are you
insistent on destroying that poor girls soul? She won’t want to
release you when the time comes, you’re making this
unnecessarily hard on her.”
“I’m doing nothing of the sort. I’ve given her what she wanted,
when the time comes for us to split I’ll return to hell and she’ll be
happy. It’s why I’m taking her to Ophanuel.” Leviathan looked
away from Pierre, every fiber of his being rebelling against his
words. He knew he didn’t want to let her go but he had to. What
